Issaquah exacts revenge in Eastlake rematch

January 31, 2012

By Bob Taylor

The second time around was much better for the Issaquah High School boys basketball team.

Earlier this season when the Eagles played Eastlake, they could not hit the broad side of a barn much less connect from outside on their 3-point shots. Issaquah went 0-27 from the 3-point range in that game and lost, 68-61.

But on Jan. 27, the Eagles were more on target, hitting 10 of 21 3-point attempts en route to an 83-59 KingCo Conference 4A triumph against the visiting Wolves.

Nick Price led the Eagles with 24 points to share game-high honors with Eastlake’s Brandon Lester.

“We had good balance. It was the first time we have had four guys in double figures all season,” Issaquah coach Jason Griffith said.

Eastlake led 18-17 at the end of the first quarter but Issaquah blitzed the Wolves in the second period, 20-10.

Other than Lester, no other Eastlake player scored in double figures. Michael Hwang was the next highest with eight points.

For Issaquah, it was the Eagles’ lone victory of the week.

Issaquah lost to Redmond, 58-52, Jan. 25. The Eagles led 12-11 after the first quarter, but Redmond blew out the host team, 15-4, in the second quarter.

Price scored 21 points and Martin had 12 points.

“That was a tough one to swallow,” Griffith said of the loss.

The Eagles had momentum and a three-point lead with four minutes left when they were nailed for a technical foul.

“The momentum kind of swung around then. We still had our chances down the stretch, but we couldn’t hit the shots, and Redmond did,” Griffith said.

On Jan. 28, the Eagles lost to host Roosevelt, 63-55. Issaquah shot to a 20-8 first quarter lead, but couldn’t keep up with Roosevelt in the second period. Roosevelt outscored the Eagles 19-5 to take the lead.